UNCW stuns top-ranked Heels on road

Published: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 9:10 p.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 9:10 p.m.

CHAPEL HILL | As reliever Kelly Secrest was writhing in pain in the infield, UNCW's upset bid of top-ranked North Carolina looked to be in jeopardy.

Then, he got up. Just as the Seahawks had done all night.

After taking a hard grounder off his leg, Secrest closed out a gritty performance to seal the Seahawks' stunning 9-8 win over the Tar Heels (36-3, 15-2 ACC) on Tuesday night in Chapel Hill.

Senior slugger Tyler Molinaro provided the game-winning runs, with a 2-run home run to deep right center in the top of the eighth to put the Seahawks ahead after clawing back from a 6-0 deficit.

It was UNCW's first win over North Carolina since 2003, ending a streak of 13 consecutive losses. Even more significant, it was the first win over a No. 1-ranked team in school history.

Despite the gravity of the moment, it was business as usual for the Seahawks.

“We know we're a good team and we should beat these teams,” Secrest said. “This is just another game for us. We know we can compete with them, and we showed it tonight.”

It was certainly a different story than when they last met in Wilmington, just three weeks ago. In that game, UNCW was held to two hits and blown out 10-0 in front of its home crowd. Despite the history, UNCW coach Mark Scalf felt good about his club coming in.

“Our guys came in tonight with some confidence and the feeling that if we can keep this thing close, we can win it on the back end,” he said.

Secrest (2-1) took over for UNCW in the fourth, facing an 8-6 deficit, and allowed just one hit the rest of the way, while striking out two and walking two.

So, when Secrest lay on the grass after giving up an infield single, there was a collective hush over the section of teal at Boshamer Stadium.

“He was not coming out,” Scalf said. “There was no chance of him giving up the baseball, and I wasn't planning on taking him out.”

Secrest said the thought of him coming out of the ballgame never crossed his mind.

After three innings, the game appeared to be headed down the path of the 13 before it between the clubs. UNC held a 6-0 lead, and UNCW had already committed three errors.

Freshman Steven Linkous was responsible for two of them in center field, and the Seahawks weren't crisp overall on defense.

Then, as Scalf put it, his team "switched it over."

Linkous redeemed himself with a two-out walk in the fourth that was the beginning of a 6-run outburst to tie the game.

Freshman shortstop Terrence Connelly then drew a bases-loaded walk, before Michael Bass knocked in a pair of runs, and Luke Dunlap cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double.

Despite getting into the national rankings two weeks ago, Secrest says it's time for more people to take notice.

“We want to get more recognition than we are,” he said. “We want to show that we can play.”

<p>CHAPEL HILL | As reliever Kelly Secrest was writhing in pain in the infield, <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic71"><b>UNCW</b></a>'s upset bid of top-ranked North Carolina looked to be in jeopardy.</p><p>Then, he got up. Just as the Seahawks had done all night.</p><p>After taking a hard grounder off his leg, Secrest closed out a gritty performance to seal the Seahawks' stunning 9-8 win over the Tar Heels (36-3, 15-2 ACC) on Tuesday night in Chapel Hill. </p><p>Senior slugger Tyler Molinaro provided the game-winning runs, with a 2-run home run to deep right center in the top of the eighth to put the Seahawks ahead after clawing back from a 6-0 deficit.</p><p>It was UNCW's first win over North Carolina since 2003, ending a streak of 13 consecutive losses. Even more significant, it was the first win over a No. 1-ranked team in school history. </p><p>Despite the gravity of the moment, it was business as usual for the Seahawks.</p><p>“We know we're a good team and we should beat these teams,” Secrest said. “This is just another game for us. We know we can compete with them, and we showed it tonight.”</p><p>It was certainly a different story than when they last met in Wilmington, just three weeks ago. In that game, UNCW was held to two hits and blown out 10-0 in front of its home crowd. Despite the history, UNCW coach Mark Scalf felt good about his club coming in.</p><p>“Our guys came in tonight with some confidence and the feeling that if we can keep this thing close, we can win it on the back end,” he said.</p><p>Secrest (2-1) took over for UNCW in the fourth, facing an 8-6 deficit, and allowed just one hit the rest of the way, while striking out two and walking two. </p><p>So, when Secrest lay on the grass after giving up an infield single, there was a collective hush over the section of teal at Boshamer Stadium.</p><p>“He was not coming out,” Scalf said. “There was no chance of him giving up the baseball, and I wasn't planning on taking him out.”</p><p>Secrest said the thought of him coming out of the ballgame never crossed his mind.</p><p>After three innings, the game appeared to be headed down the path of the 13 before it between the clubs. UNC held a 6-0 lead, and UNCW had already committed three errors. </p><p>Freshman Steven Linkous was responsible for two of them in center field, and the Seahawks weren't crisp overall on defense.</p><p>Then, as Scalf put it, his team "switched it over."</p><p>Linkous redeemed himself with a two-out walk in the fourth that was the beginning of a 6-run outburst to tie the game. </p><p>Freshman shortstop Terrence Connelly then drew a bases-loaded walk, before Michael Bass knocked in a pair of runs, and Luke Dunlap cleared the bases with a 3-RBI double. </p><p>Despite getting into the national rankings two weeks ago, Secrest says it's time for more people to take notice.</p><p>“We want to get more recognition than we are,” he said. “We want to show that we can play.”</p>